I am gearing up for my second year as a TT assistant prof at a SLAC. Out of innocent curiosity, I perused the job ads and saw one for an ideal position at a dream school. I am tempted to apply even though I had no plans to go on the market this year. I don't know if I am suffering from the "grass is greener" syndrome.

However, I am concerned about burning bridges at my current institution if I even apply for the job. I've seen other colleagues go through similar situations (with very good reasons for looking elsewhere) and now they get the cold shoulder from colleagues and higher up admins.

Any thoughts on whether I should apply? And, if so, how to go about it in a way that minimizes collateral damage at my current institution? (e.g., do I keep it a secret or share with trusted colleagues)

Here is some context about my current institution and the dream school:

I am pretty happy at my current institution. The job is a good fit. I have fantastic colleagues. The students are excellent. My main complaint is the remote location. I am far from family and friends, feel deprived of cultural activities, and don't really fit with the culture here. I also wish there was more time for research (i.e., lighter teaching load and better resources). Both my partner and I have been fighting discontent with the location since we moved here.

In contrast, the other school is in a culturally-rich town with many friends and family members nearby. Plus, the school itself (the mission, the interdisciplinary classes) sounds like an excellent fit (at least on paper). The teaching load is lighter and they seem to have better resources for research with undergraduates.

I would suggest to definitely apply but not say anything to your current institution/colleagues. You would be leaving after your second year, not the first. You may not even get a campus interview at this desired school. If you do, you may not get an offer or get an offer but realize through the campus visit that it's not any better (or is worse) than your current institution. So submitting an application at this point is not making a decision about leaving, just about finding out more about this potentially better fitting job.

You could submit your materials but not send references from your current institution and say in your cover letter that you would be able to provide a reference from your current institution as a finalist but not right now because your application is confidential and you do not at this point want your school to know about it. I think the institution you apply to will understand and that way you avoid tensions in your current department if nothing comes of your application. They will only find out if you are leaving and at that point it probably does not matter so much. Those who matter to you in the department will understand your situation and decision.

I would second anon's suggestion. Definitely have heard stories about SLAC situations where someone just put their toe in the water and found themselves very much "on the outs." In fact, I think someone told me that a colleague at a SLAC who simply interviewed for another position eventually finding it impossible to stay there. You are right to be concerned and keep things quiet until there is something to actually talk about.

I'm doing this. I LOVE my current job - actually quite a bit more than you do yours - but the dream job has been posted. It is at a school with a lighter load & better research opportunities, but still a strong teaching focus (a plus for me). But the real draw is the location, which is THE dream location for my family. We are in a decent location right now, but far from family and friends. Assuming this job application doesn't work out I know we'll be happy making our lives here, and I do truly love my job.

Because I'm at a small LAC it would be a huge blow for them to lose me (not that I'm amazing; just that we have a small dept and whatnot) so I'm keeping the application confidential now. It would stress people to even know I'm applying and some people would not handle it well.